How to Find a Bridal Gown the FITS You
Curly haired girls unite!! I feel like it isn't often in my life that I sit down for my first real conversation with a person, as in Chelsea and I had only before exchanged pleasantries, and end up enjoying their company so immensely.
We talked about all the things that make my heart sing: birth, weddings and extremely great actors with good souls (Adam Driver, be on the podcast).
THE NOT SO GREATS OF A CHEAP DRESS FROM CHINA
I've thought before how cost advantageous it might be to buy a cheap-o dress from an Asian country, purchased through the internet, and then to take said sack of fabric and tailor it and transform it into something that will really suit you. But after talking with Chelsea I've decided that idea sucks.
I learned that low cost dresses can (and most likely will) be made with low quality fabrics, meaning tailoring and redesigning might be difficult or impossible. My mom is a big sewer and maker and creator and I had her hem my wedding dress. I thought it would be easy. Well, without familiarity in wedding dress materials, altering that dress was most time consuming for dear old ma (she's not old but the phrase remains).
Rethink your ideas of cutting corners, or at the very least, listen to this episode and then make a wedding dress plan.
HOW DO I PEE IN MY WEDDING DRESS?
You should want to live in your wedding dress, and because of this, your dress should be made in a way that encourages you to want to stay in it. Practice sitting and moving in your dress while clamped, then consider how much give there is when you move. Alterations can make your life harder, not because you are afraid of it ripping, but because you literally will have to get naked in order to pee.
Thinking to yourself, I'll just suck it up and not pee all day, is not an option. Hydration is important as a woman, as a human and as a person getting married. Ask your designer for any tips or tricks, or just get a Modehaus gown and then you won't have to worry about a urination strategy, or, apparently, underwear.
WHAT IS A TRUNK SHOW?
Bridal boutiques will host designers and have their dresses available in shop. If a designer you love is having a trunk show at your local shop, GO. Go, because you could have an opportunity to meet the designer.
HOW DOES THE PROCESS WORK?
Process A: opting for a dress from a collection. Book an appointment in the boutique and try on the dresses you like from the collections you love. Once you've decided on a particular dress you'll get fitted. Then patiently wait as your dress is made. Then there's just one more fitting and final alterations. Viola!
Process B: opting for a custom made dress. Book and appointment in the boutique and talk over what you want for your look. Bring inspiration, bring details about your wedding and be open minded. You'll put a deposit down and in return Chelsea will sketch your wedding dress.
Once you've approved a sketch, Chelsea will make your dress in muslin and you'll come in to try it on. This is the exciting part. At least for Chelsea it is lol. Of course there is the opportunity to make tweaks to the design, anything to make your butt look the way you want it to. Again, you'll be patient and once your dress is made you'll come in for another fitting and final alterations.
I think what's really neat-o about Chelsea is her flexibility and her desire to ensure that you feel good in your dress. It's not just about getting it done, or whipping it together, it's about you feeling like your most beautiful you. For me personally, at a wedding, that's wearing a jumpsuit and a fanny pack.
IS THERE A BEST WAY TO WEAR A FANNY PACK?
Chelsea side hips hers, or flips it backwards, Josey, however, struggles with the ab sweat and wears it like a champ.
HOW DO I GET INTO MY DRESS?
With help.
You want your dress to be easy to get into, think a zipper that is on the back, think having one or two people there to help you be balanced and be comfortable, think stepping into your dress (so makeup doesn't get on your dress). You'll want to have practiced putting your dress on. At least that's my advice (and Chelsea's).
Have three people, or four. One person to distract, one to button, one to part the sea so that you are stepping onto the floor and not onto your dress. An additional person can hold your hand and that's nice.
CHELSEA'S BEST WEDDING ADVICE
Embrace your body. Be thoughtful about the things that you want for your wedding, think about what's more important to you and your partner. Be mindful of your guests and their experience. The wedding world is overwhelming and big and heavy, so stand your ground.